After suffering their first loss of 2016 Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park with Clayton Kershaw making his second Cactus League start of the year.
Yasiel Puig lined a one-out single to center field and later went first to third base on Andre Ethier’s single. Kyle Hendricks left both runners stranded by getting A.J. Ellis looking on called strike three.
Kershaw opened the bottom of the first with a strikeout of Javier Baez. Kyle Schwarber lined a base hit to center field, however he was soon after thrown out attempting to take second base on a pitch in the dirt. Kris Bryant flied out to end a scoreless first inning.
After Hendricks retired the Dodgers in order, Kershaw picked up another strikeout to start the bottom of the second, then allowed a base hit to Shane Victorino.
David Ross was called out on strikes for the second out, though Taylor Davis kept the inning alive by drawing a four-pitch walk. Kershaw ended the inning by getting Carlos Perez swinging to strikeout the side.
Baez and Schwarber hit back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the third. Schwarber advanced to second base on Puig’s ill-advised throw to third base. The Cubs took a 1-0 lead on a Bryant RBI single before Kershaw managed to get through the inning.
The Dodgers’ ace allowed one run on five hits, had five strikeouts and issue one walk over his three innings of work. Travis Wood took over for Hendricks in the fourth and allowed a one-out base hit to Ethier.
With two outs and Ethier still on first base, Kiké Hernandez tied the game with an RBI triple to center field that Perez lost in the sun.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers Battle Back From Losing Multiple Leads
Joe Blanton entered in the bottom of the fourth and promptly gave up a leadoff double to Ross. Blanton worked his way out of trouble by retiring the next three batters faced. Rob Segedin led off the fourth with a double, only to be thrown out one batter later by Ross after fielding a tapper in front of the plate.
The Cubs failed to turn an inning-ending double play, leaving Carl Crawford standing on second base with two outs. Puig kept the inning alive by drawing a walk, and Chase Utley cashed in on the opportunity, with his RBI single giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Bryant’s solo home run off Blanton with two outs in the bottom of the fifth tied the game. Ellis led off the sixth with a base hit and was advanced to second base on a slow grounder to third. With two on and two outs, Micah Johnson’s RBI double gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.
That was short-lived as Pedro Baez surrendered a game-tying, solo home run to Ross in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer and Ellis connected for back-to-back base hits with two outs in the top of the seventh.
Cody Bellinger pinch-hit for Hernandez and drew a walk, with ball four being a wild pitch. Farmer scored from second base on the play, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. Trayce Thompson followed with a two-run triple that extended their lead and also knocked Armando Rivero out of the game.
Kristopher Negron led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single to shortstop. He then tagged and advanced to second base on a deep fly out to right field. Carlos Frias stranded Negron by retiring the next two batters faced.
After hitting a leadoff single in the eighth, Johnson stole second base to give the Dodgers a runner in scoring position with no outs. He quickly came around to score on Corey Brown’s RBI single.
Frias retired the side in order in the eighth, and Jacob Rhame followed suit in the ninth to secure the Dodgers’ 7-3 win.